Charaka-Samhita — trans. Kaviraj Avinash Chandra Kaviratna

The observations on the increase and decrease of the ‘ dhatus ’ or ingredients of the body are brought to a close. When the ingredients are in their normal proportions, the result is Health ; when otherwise, ;the rrqsujt . is , Diseasey

After this, pe<fur shite pqfedtioiM of Agnive$a about the priority or subsequence or growth, in ‘the womb of the several parts of the foetus.

Various opinions are propounded by various Rishis in answer to these questions. That of Dhanwantari about the simultaneous growth of 'alt “thie 'limbs with the Heart which is the principal one, is adopted by all the Rishis.

The foatus is supported, through the 1 amara ’ (umanbilical cord), with juices, etc., into which the food taken by the mother is., converted.

Then occurs a discussion on the question whether there is untimely death. After setting forth the various meanings of the word in time this connection, and the various ways in which the question is answered, . the cqnclijsion . isr adopted J that thb're is timely : deiath ' as ^l^ 'unti'mfefy^ath'dh -tfife' sense , .that some perspi\s die at what may be called the prpper age while others ' die before reaching it. .

In this,. fepoch, the .usual limit of human life, js set forth as a' hundred years.

Lpss.on VII. commences at page 8oj, _ on the number and “measurements of the several limbs of the body. The entire lesson .is anatomical. .The six tissues or. coats of. the body -are sefr-fcirth. Then occtir-the Six- pf-incipal parts'- bf the body, . viz.' % he two arms, t the two legs, the trunk, and the head with the neck. - - - - v - ' .

Then comes an enumeration of the three hundred and sixty bones.

There are 900 tendons (or tubular ducts which are attacted to the bones and which carry the vital airs), 700 ‘ ciras,’ 200 veins, 500 muscles, 107 vital parts, and 200 joints. '

There are 30,56,900 mouths of nerves and veins. There are as many hairs on the head, in the beard, and on the whole body.

The measures are then set forth of. the water in the body, which exists with the stools, the urine, the blood, etc. ; of the Blood, of the Stools, of Phlegm, of Bile, of Urine, of Adeps, of Fa.t, of Marxoiv, of the Brain, pf.. SemenL and-hf The Ojas. ' '■

3 Then comes ain enumeration -of those parts'o'Tthe body'' which partake the nature of the five primpal elements- 1 pgrth , water, fire, air, and ether. Taking the body as a conglomeration of atoms, the constituting ingredients are inumerable.

The union of atoms is due to the action of the Wind. When the conglomeration is dissolved, result is Emancipation or dissociation of the Self from matter.

Lesson VIII, commences at page 813. It is called Jatisutriya, and is most important. It deals with those acts which a man and a woman desirous of good offspring should do. The course of discipline to which each is to be subjected is laid down in full. The subject is extrimely interesting and deserves to be studied with care, for the improvement of the human race may be said to depend upon it.

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July 25th, 1901. )

'CHARAKA SAMHITA. 795 :

"those which having attained to ripeness (or maturity) escape out of the body, iThen, again, all excited Wind, Bile, and Phlegm, and all other entities which exist in the body and which operate as impediments to the body, we shall regard as IrrqJfiritieS. All other entities in the body are regarded as falling within the head of Purity (or Prasada).

All ingredients classified According to their qualities And beginning with ‘heavy’ and ending with ‘liquid,’ as also all those which are classified according to substance and beginning with ‘juice’ and ending with ‘serrten,’ are reckoned As Purities (or PrasIdA).*22

* By ‘ garira-dhalii ’ is, of course, meant the ingredients that make up the bddy. These are, principally, of two kinds, viz., Impurities (or refuse) And the Pure elements. 1 Mala ’ is Impurity. ‘ Mala-bhuta ’ is ‘ that which has been converted or transformed into ‘ Mala ’ dr Impurity.

Similarly ‘ Prasada 1 means the Pure elements. ‘ Prasada-bhuta ’ is ‘ that Which has been transformed into ‘ Prasada ’ or the Pure elements'.

The characteristic of ‘ Pviala 1 is that it is ‘ badhakara,’ meaning ‘ obstruction-causing.’ Impurities of every kind are so many obstructions dr impediments which the! body must be rid of if it is to remain in a state of health. Sweat, urine, stools, &c., are all of this kind.